Prestructured building and panels therefor

ABSTRACT

A prestructured building is assembled from manufactured panels, each of which includes parallel spaced-apart channel members having interposed therebetween and secured thereto sheet material. The panels are interconnected by the adjoining of adjacent channel members to form the walls and roof of the building whereby the channel members become the framework of the building and the sheet material becomes the siding and roofing thereof.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,755,976

Dolhaine Sept. 4, 1973 [54] PRESTRUCTURED BUILDING AND PANELS 1,616,6052/1927 Campbell 206/62 R X F R 992,638 5/1911 Bobb 52/624 THERE o2,231,216 2/1941 Nystrom.. 52/618 [75] Inventor: Alfred W. J- D Tulsa,OkIa- 3,279,132 10/1966 Slayter 52/93 x [73] Assignee: Allied SteelProducts Corporation,

Tulsa, Okla Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkm Att0rneyl'lead and Johnson[22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 30,150 [57] ABSTRACT Aprestructured building is assembled from manufac- [52] US. Cl. 52/93,206/65 R lured p each of which includes parallel p d- [51] Int. Cl E04b7/02 p r h nnel members having interposed therebe- 8] Field f arch52/624, 625, 93-96, tween and secured thereto sheet material. The panels5 /616, 618, 622, 623, 309, 173, 627, 580, are interconnected by theadjoining of adjacent chan- 584; 206/46 H 46 R, 62 R 65 R, 60 R nelmembers to form the walls and roof of the building whereby the channelmembers become the framework [56] R feren Cited of the building and thesheet material becomes the sid- UNITED STATES PATENTS "8 and mofingthere 814,898 3/1906 Bloomberg 206/65 R 2 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTED 8i? 4 I873 SHEEI 1 0F 5 INVENTOR. ALFRED W. J. DOLHAINE M MMATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP' 4 mm 3.755; 97

sum 3 or s iNVENTOR.

ALFRED 'W. J. DOLHAINE Pmmmm ma 3755376 INVENTOR. ALFRED W. J DOLHAINE kM #Jafimwn,

ATTORNEYS PRESTRUCTURED BUILDING AND PANELS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to buildings and more particularly toprestructured buildings. In recent years the use of prestructuredbuildings, that is, buildings which are assembled from prefabricatedpanels have received a wide and ever-growing acceptance. One advantageof prefabricated buildings over commonly used part by part constructionis the reduction of erection time which reduces field construction costsand also permits quick beneficial occupancy of the building.

One of the principle problems encountered in prestructed buildings isthe damage to the prefabricated panel during transportation thereof fromthe manufacturing facility to the construction site. Unless the panelsare elaborately crated, jolts incurred during shipment will cause therelatively fragile sheet portions of the panels which are usuallyjuxtaposed in close proximity to each other to collide resulting increases or indentures therein which detract from the pleasing appearancethereof. In some situations a hole may even by punched through the sheetportions necessitating the replacement or repairing thereof.

It is therefore anobject of this invention to present prefabricatedbuilding panels which are so constructed that the same can betransported without being damaged and without requiring substantialcrating procedures.

It is a second object of this invention to present prefabricatedbuilding panels incorporating rigid channel members which maintain aspace between the sheet portions of the panels during shipment and whichalso provide the framework of the assembled building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally the prestructured building isconstructed from a plurality of wall and roof panels which arefabricated in a manufacturing facility and transported unassembled tothe construction site. Generally the wall and roof panels consist of twovertical channels having interposed therebetween and secured theretosheet material. The channel members also serve to protect the sheetmaterial from damage during transportation, that is duringtransportation the panels are positioned and interconnected in abreastrelationship such that the legs of the channels maintain a space betweenthe respective sheet materials to prevent collisions therebetween. Atthe construction site the individual wall and roof panels are joined atthe junction of adjacent channel members such that the channel membersbecome the framework of the building and the sheet material becomes thesiding thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of thebuilding showing the overall configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is an isometrical view of an individual panel which is an elementof the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a plurality of panels interconnected and readyfor transportation thereof from the plant facility to the constructionsite.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of the building taken along the line4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a corner of the building taken alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. 1,the prestructured building I generally denoted as the numeral 10,embodies a plurality of interconnected sidewall panels 12, roof panels14 and end wall panels 16, each of which is generally similar inconstruction to the sidewall panel shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings towhich specific attention will now be given.

An individual sidewall panel 12 includes two rigid spaced-apart parallelbeam members 18 and 20 which may be of a variety of shapes, such ascommonly known wide flange or standard I-beams. However, it has beenfound that channel members having a web 22 and legs 24 perpendicularthereto are well suited for utilization in the panel. In subsequentdiscussions, the beam members will be referred to as channel members.The webs 22 of the beam or channel members are in facing relationshipand have appropriately secured thereto sheeting 28 interposedtherebetween in such a manner that there is a void 26 between the sidesof the sheeting and the legs of the channel. The sheeting 28 may befastened to the channel members by cross support members betweenchannels or by using any well known type of fastener such as bolts,rivets, or screws, which are diagrammatically shown by the numeral 29 inthe various views. Each of the legs 24 contains a plurality of pairedtransverse apertures 30.

The beam or channel members 18 and 20 generally are straight strips ofrigid material such as steel formed either from hot rolled, cold rolledor cold formed manufacturing methods and the sheeting 28 interposedtherebetween usually comprises a plurality of laminae sandwichedtogether to form a unitary sheet, the number and composition of whichvaries with the design specifications of each building. A typical panelwill include an interior lining 32, a first insulation blanket 34, avapor shield liner 36, a second insulation blanket 38, and an exteriorprotective covering 40. The composition of the individual laminae andthe fabrication thereof are well known in the art and in no way limitthe concepts of the invention.

Although the individual panels forming the sidewall panels 12, the endwall panels 16, and the roof panels 14 embody the same generalprinciples of construction, each type panel does have individualcharacteristics which are necessary for achieving the specific functionthereof.

Considering first the sidewall panels 12, the beam or channel members 18and 20 thereof are elongated members, preferably straight along thelower portion thereof. Other configurations such as that shown in FIG. 9is also inclusive of this invention. Received over the upper end thereofis a receiving plate 42 upon which the cave portion of the beam orchannel members of the roof panels 14 rest when the building isassembled.

Turning now to the specific configuration of a roof panel 14 and inparticular to such a panel used on a gable type roof, as can be seen inthe cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the channel members thereof slopeupwardly at an acute angle relative to a horizontal plane and the caveportion thereof includes an abutting member 44 extending horizontallyoutwardly from the lower leg thereof and a vertical member 45 extendingdownwardly from the upper leg to meet the horizontal abutting leg at aright angle. The sheeting 28 of a roof panel slopes upwardly parallelwith the channel member and at the eave end thereof the inner laminae32, 34, 36 and 38 turn downwardly into transverse alignment with thevertical sidewall sheeting while the outermost protective covering 40thereof progresses outwardly to form an overhang as at 46. Other roofingpanels such astha t used for a flat roof are constructed in a similarmanner.

As is shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the

end wall panels 16 are similarly constructed to the side-.

wall panels 12 except that the corner post channels 48 thereof include ahorizontal extension flange 50 progressing inwardly from the edge of oneof the legs 24 thereof. In addition to typical parallel spaced-apartvertical channel members, each end wall panel 16 includes a transversingmember 52 which connects at the top thereof the two vertical channelmembers and which is of a shape similar to the comer post as can be seenin FIG. 8 in that it also includes a horizontal inwardly progressingextension flange 53 on one of the leg portions thereof.

Once manufactured, the panels of the building are crated for shipment tothe construction site in the manner depicted in FIG. 3. The panels arepositioned in parallel relationship with the legs of adjacent channels18 and 20 abutting each other and a bolt 54 is introduced into asufiicient number of apertures 30 onto which is threaded a nut to securethe panels together such that a space 57 is maintained between thelayers of adjacent sheeting 28. A crane or other lifting means hooked tohandling chains 56 which in turn are hooked to the channel membersthrough eyelet plates 58 or other structural means is used to lift theconnected panels onto a freight car or bed for the trip to the construc:tion site. During shipment the channels so interconnected maintain thespace 57 between neighboring relative fragile layers of sheeting 28 toprevent collision therebetween and resultant damage thereto. in additionthe channels are of sufficient rigidity to independently support theweight of the panels and consequently eliminate the need for furthercrating.

Turning now to the assembling of the building, at the construction sitewhere the foundation and floor which in some instances may haveequipment installed thereon, have usually already been completed, thejoined panels are unloaded from the freight car and disconnected byremoval of bolts 54.

Referring now to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, there is shown atypical joining of two like panels, that is, the joining of a sidewallpanel to a sidewall panel, end wall panel to an end wall panel, or aroof panel to a roof panel. The connecting of all three types of panelsis accomplished in a similar manner and discussion will referspecifically to a sidewall panel but it is to be understood that thesame applies to end wall and/or roof panels.

Two sidewall panels 12 are juxtaposed in horizontal alignment with thewebs 22 of adjacent channel members l8 and 20 being back to back in aclose proximity to each other. A first spacer plate 60 spanning betweenthe legs 24 of the panel within the interior of the building and boltedthereto through utilization of a transverse aperture 30 on each of thelegs 24 joins the juxtaposed panels. ln like manner, a second spacerplate 62 joins the two channels along the exterior legs thereof. Withthe panels so joined, the sheeting 28 of the panels provides the sidingof the building and the wedded channel members form the side frameworkthereof thereby eliminating the need for a spearate independentlyassembled structure framework and also eliminating the need for anystructural beams within the interior of the building. Thus the entireinterior space of the building can be utilized for positioning plateequipment. Flexible insulation 63 (e.g., acoustical, thermal or other)if required is introduced around the exterior leg of the channel membersalong the longitudinal length thereof and is retained therein by havingthe longitudinal ends thereof wedged between the outer protectivecovering laminae 40 and the second insulation laminae 38 of the sheeting28.

To seal the wedded channel members from the elements, an elongated boxenclosure 64, rectangular in cross section and which may be fabricatedfrom the same material as the outer protective covering laminae 40 isinstalled over the flexible insulation and the junction of the channelmembers and is appropriately secured to the outer covering of the panelssuch as by means of sheet metal screws.

As before mentioned, the roof and end wall panels are joined in asimilar manner along the longitudinal lengths of the channel membersthereof. As with the side panels, the channel members of the roof panelsfonn the roof framework or rafters and the sheeting 28 thereof providesa siding or roofing of the building. on the other hand as will becomeclearer in subsequent discussion, the end wall panels merely serve toenclose a the end of the building and are not an integral part of theframework thereof.

Looking now at FIG. 6, on a gable type roof, the rafter channels besidesbeing joined at and along the elongated legs 24 of the channel membersare also joined at the upper transverse end 66. Appropriate openings maybe arranged in the roof for vents, pipes, etc., as required. A coverplate 76 stretching longitudinally between the rafter channels andtransversely between the sheeting 28 is received over and is contiguouswith the upper end portion of the outer protective covering laminae 40.

Once the individual type panels have been connected, the sidewall panels12 are properly positioned on the foundation of the building and thelower ends of the channel members 18 and 20 thereof are anchored andgrouted thereto in a manner similar to present commonly used methods.

Looking now at FIG. 7, the connected roof panels are next lifted overand aligned with the sidewall panels such that the horizontal abuttingmember 44 of the rafter channels rests on and is bolted to the receivingplate 42 of the sidewall panels. A haunch bracket 78 having flanges 80inserted in the gap between the joined channel members is bolted to thechannel members to furnish additional structural strength to thejunction. Connecting plate 83 also provides even additional strength tothe junction of the rafter panel 14 and the sidewall panel 12. The caveportion of the sheeting of the roof panel 14 provides an extension tothe sidewall siding which is protected from the elements by a shield 82longitudinally extending between the panel members and overlapping theouter protective covering 40 of the sidewall. The joining of theentirety of the roof panels 14 to the sidewall panels 12 provides aself-supporting open-ended building having integral framework ofsufficient strength and rigidity to independently support the buildingweight, all dead-weight loads, and design live-weight loads, such asoverhead cranes and specified combinations thereof without the need forany additional bracing.

Enclosure of the building is obtained by abutting and connecting the endwall panels 16 around the periphery of the transverse extremities of thesidewall and the roof panels 12 and 14. FIG. 5 illustrates theconnecting of the corner sidewall panel to the comer post of the endwall 16. The addition of the horizontal extension flange 50 onto a leg24 of the corner post enables the web of the end panel 16 to bepositioned perpendicular to the web of the sidewall 12 which results inthe end wall sheeting turning the comer or as otherwise stated, therespective sidewall panels and end wall panels are mutuallyperpendicular. Since the end wall panels do not form an integral part ofthe framework of the building but are used merely to enclose thebuilding and shut out the wind and elements, the joining thereof to thesidewall panels need be only at and along the leg portions of thechannels protruding within the interior of the building. The connectingis done with spacer plates 60 bolted to the respective leg portionswhich have transverse apertures therein. Elongated insulating blankets85 are wrapped around the channels from the top to the bottom thereofand are covered by first and second enclosures 84 and 86 each of whichare secured along one longitudinal edge thereof to the outer protectivecovering 40 and which along the other longitudinal edges thereofmutually overlap and are secured to an L-shaped bracket 88 projectingoutwardly from the back of the web of the corner post.

Turning now to FIG. 8, the gable connection of the roof panels 14 to thetransversing members 52 of the end wall panels is shown. As in thejoining of the end wall corner post to the sidewall, extension flange 53extending inwardly from the member 52 permits a spacer plate 60 toconnect the two members 20 and 52 such that the web of the end walltransversing member 52 is perpendicular to the web of the roof channel.Insulation blankets and enclosures 84 and 86 are introduced andinstalled over the channels in a manner similar to that done at thecomer post.

The construction herein explained is capable of permitting expansion.For example, removal of the end wall readily permits the addition ofpanels and roof panels to a new desired length.

During the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention specific terminology has been used for the sake of clarity,however, it is to be understood that the words used are not words oflimitation and include all equivalents which are operated in a similarmanner to obtain a similar result. Obviously, the building could includevarious overhead and entry doors and also overhead cranes which arecarried by and supported by the channel rafters of the building. Alsoeven though the preferred embodiment described the assembly of thebuilding by first referring to the sidewalls, the roof, and then the endwalls, the steps in joining of the individual panels could just aseasily be reversed or interchanged.

What is claimed is:

1. A panel for a prestructured building comprising:

two longitudinal parallel spaced-apart channel members each of saidchannel members having webs bordered by legs substantially perpendicularthereto, said members oriented such that said legs face each other;

sheeting interposed between said facing channel legs and securedthereto; and

means along said legs to interconnect with the leg of an adjacent panelwhen stacked in parallel relationship for transportation to a givensite;

whereafter a plurality of said panels can be joined along abutting websto form a building with said channel members being the framework thereofand the said sheeting being the siding thereof.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said sheeting comprises aplurality of laminae sandwiched together; said laminae including aninner surface portion, an insulating portion and an outer protectiveportion.

l t t

1. A panel for a prestructured building comprising: two longitudinal parallel spaced-apart channel members each of said channel members having webs bordered by legs substantially perpendicular thereto, said members oriented such that said legs face each other; sheeting interposed between said facing channel legs and secured thereto; and means along said legs to interconnect with the leg of an adjacent panel when stacked in parallel relationship for transportation to a given site; whereafter a plurality of said panels can be joined along abutting webs to form a building with said channel members being the framework thereof and the said sheeting being the siding thereof.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said sheeting comprises a plurality of laminae sandwiched together; said laminae including an inner surface portion, an insulating portion and an outer protective portion. 